 | Term | Definition |
| |
concise (adj) |
brief and to the point |
| |
laconic (adj) |
disposed to using few words |
| |
succinct (adj) |
spoken or written in a clear and precise manner |
| |
brusque (adj) |
rudely abrupt |
| |
abridge (v) |
to shorten a written text |
| |
brevity (n) |
quality of succinct expression |
| |
judicious (adj) |
showing sound judgment; prudent |
| |
adjudicate (v) |
to hear and judge a case |
| |
astute (adj) |
shrewd; keen |
| |
scrutinize (v) |
to examine carefully |
| |
perjure (v) |
to lie under oath |
| |
prudent (adj) |
using good judgment |
| |
eloquent (adj) |
well spoken |
| |
loquacious (adj) |
very talkative |
| |
circumlocution (n) |
evasive speech; talking around the subject |
| |
colloquial (adj) |
conversational; using everyday language |
| |
grandiloquent (adj) |
speaking in a pompous manner |
| |
elocution (n) |
expressive delivery of public speech |
| |
benefactor (n) |
one who supports or helps another |
| |
benign (adj) |
harmless |
| |
benevolent (adj) |
kind; considerate |
| |
benediction (n) |
an expression of good wishes |
| |
euphemism (n) |
the substitution of an inoffensive term for an offensive one |
| |
eulogy (n) |
a praising tribute |
| |
immutable (adj) |
unchangeable |
| |
metamorphosis (n) |
a transformation |
| |
rupture (v) |
to break open |
| |
transmute (v) |
to transform |
| |
amorphous (adj) |
lacking shape, changeable in form |
| |
mercurial (adj) |
erratic, subject to wild changes in character |
| |
hackneyed (adj) |
overused, trite |
| |
mundane (adj) |
ordinary, typical |
| |
vacuous (adj) |
lacking substance |
| |
prosaic (adj) |
unimaginative, ordinary |
| |
insipid (adj) |
uninteresting, dull, without flavor |
| |
banal (adj) |
ordinary, trivial |
| |
sanguine (adj) |
cheerfully optimistic |
| |
phlegmatic (adj) |
sluggish |
| |
melancholy (adj) |
sad, depressed |
| |
choleric (adj) |
easily angered |
| |
recalcitrant (adj) |
stubbornly resistant to authority |
| |
lethargic (adj) |
sluggish; dully apathetic |
| |
spurious (adj) |
fake; counterfeit |
| |
guile (n) |
trickery; deceit |
| |
beguile (v) |
to deceive with charm |
| |
strategem (n) |
a deceitful scheme |
| |
surreptitious (adj) |
deceptive; sneaky |
| |
clandestine (adj) |
secret; hidden |
| |
stealth (n) |
sneakiness; ability to avoid detection |
| |
transient (adj) |
fleeting ; short-lived |
| |
ephemeral (adj) |
short-lived |
| |
sporadic (adj) |
irregular or unpredicted; infrequent |
| |
capricious (adj) |
whimsical; impulsive |
| |
evanescent (adj) |
likely to vanish |
| |
extemporaneous (adj) |
done with little or no practice |
| |
anachronism (n) |
something out of place in time |
| |
censure (n) |
official condemnation; harsh critcism |
| |
diatribe (n) |
malicious criticism or abuse |
| |
caustic (adj) |
corrosive; sarcastic |
| |
derogatory (adj) |
disparaging; belittling |
| |
admonish (v) |
to reprimand mildly |
| |
repudiate (v) |
to cast off publicly |
| |
sanctimonious (adj) |
falsely pious or self-righteous |
| |
sacrosanct (adj) |
profoundly sacred |
| |
sanctuary (n) |
a place of refuge; a sacred place |
| |
sacrilegious (adj) |
grossly irreverent; disrespectful of something sacred |
| |
revere (v) |
to regard with honor and devotion |
| |
pious (adj) |
showing religious reverence |
| |
deference (n) |
respect for the wishes of others |
| |
formidable (adj) |
awesome; hard to overcome; dreadful |
| |
potent (adj) |
strong and effective |
| |
indomitable (adj) |
unable to be conquered |
| |
redoubtable (adj) |
arousing fear; formidable; awesome |
| |
robust (adj) |
full of vigor |
| |
impervious (adj) |
incapable of being penetrated or affected |
| |
coalesce (v) |
to blend or fuse together |
| |
anthology (n) |
a collection of works |
| |
convoke (v) |
to call together |
| |
synchronize (v) |
to arrange events to occur simultaneously |
| |
synthesis (n) |
a fusion; a bringing together |
| |
eclectic (adj) |
made up of parts from many different sources |
| |
yoke (v) |
to join different things |
| |
ruthless (adj) |
cruel; merciless |
| |
contempt (n) |
scorn; disrespect |
| |
callous (adj) |
hardened; insensitive |
| |
supercilious (adj) |
full of haughty arrogance |
| |
idionsyncracy (n) |
a peculiar trait or habit |
| |
anomaly (n) |
unusual event |
| |
atrophy (v) |
to weaken from disuse |
| |
abate (v) |
to subside; to decrease in intensity |
| |
porous (adj) |
filled with many holes |
| |
wane (v) |
to grow smaller or less intense |
| |
lassitude (n) |
a feeling of weakness |
| |
undermine (v) |
to weaken or diminish something |
| |
placid (adj) |
calm |
| |
inert (adj) |
sluggish; inactive |
| |
listless (adj) |
sluggish; without energy |
| |
quiescent (adj) |
resting; quiet |
| |
serene (adj) |
tranquil; calm; placid |
| |
static (adj) |
stationary |
| |
languid (adj) |
weak; sluggish |
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